Professional Responsibility - Sheet1 (1) Flashcards
PR
Applicable Law
(1) California and ABA authorities
- Unless otherwise directed
- ABA Model Rules for majority guidance.
(2) NOT COVERED: Code of Judicial Conduct
PR
Duties Owed by to CLIENT
(1) Confidentiality
(2) Loyalty
(3) Financial Responsibility
(4) Competence
(5) Otherwise act reasonably
PR
Opening Sentence for PR
’The lawyer has a duty of [fill in a duty] to [fill in a person or thing].’
PR
Duties Owed by to Court and Others
(1) Candor/Truthfulness
(2) Fairness
(3) Dignity/Decorum
(4) Otherwise act reasonably
PR
To whom does an attorney owe duties to?
(1) Clients & Prospective Clients
(2) Court/tribunal
(3) Adversaries (parties & their counsel)
(4) Profession
(5) Third parties
(6) Public
PR
Mnemonic for Duties Owed
Clients Love Fierce Counsel; Court Feel Differently
CLIENT:
(1) Confidentiality
(2) Loyalty
(3) Financial Responsibility
(4) Competence
OTHERS:
(1) Candor/Truthfulness
(2) Fairness
(3) Dignity/Decorum
PR
Duty of Confidentiality
Attorney cannot reveal anything ‘related to the representation’ of a client without her consent.
-Client does not have to request confidentiality
PR
Disclaimer of Confidentiality
Disclaimer MUST be in sufficiently plain terms for a lay person to understand.
VALID
‘I understand and agree that Law Firm will have no duty to keep confidential the information I am now transmitting to Law Firm.’
INVALID
‘I agree I am not forming an attorney-client relationship or a confidential relationship by submitting this question.’
PR
Duty of Confidentiality##v.##Attorney-client privilege
(1) Duty of Confidentiality
- PR Rule
- Covers: all communications pertaining to legal services AND disclosures that could reasonably lead to discovery of confidential information by a third party
- Covers information obtained from non-parties
(2) Attorney-client privilege
- Evidentiary Rule
- Covers: only communications pertaining to legal services, not other subjects like business tactics or political consequences.
- Covers information obtained ONLY from parties and their agents
PR
Duty of Confidentiality: 5 Exceptions
(1) Consent
- Implied; or
- Express
(2) Bodily Injury or Death
- CA: act must be criminal; & good faith attempt to (i) dissuade; and/or (ii) disclose
- ABA: any act resulting in substantial bodily injury or death
(3) Pecuniary Loss and Fraud
- CA: NO disclosure
- ABA: Allows IF: (i) used/using legal services to further; & (ii) disclosure would prevent or mitigate substantial financial loss
(4) Attorney Self-Defense
- MalPractice
- Disciplinary action
- Not paying bill
(5) Compelled by Law
PR
Bodily Injury or Death Exception to Confidentiality##ABA##v.##CA
ABA
(1) may disclose what’s necessary
(2) if reasonable belief it is necessary
(3) to prevent an ACT likely to result in
(4) reasonably certain death or substantial bodily harm
CA
(1) If reasonable, make good faith effort to dissuade client
(2) if that fails, inform the client intent to disclose
(3) may disclose what’s necessary
(4) if reasonable belief it is necessary
(5) to prevent a CRIMINAL act likely to result in
(6) reasonably certain death or substantial bodily harm
NOTE:
CA must 1st attempt to dissuade and inform of intent to disclose
CA the act must be CRIMINAL
PR
Pecuniary Loss and Fraud Exception to Confidentiality##ABA##v.##CA
ABA
(1) IF client used or is using your services
(2) to commit the crime; and
(3) disclosure would prevent or mitigate SUBSTANTIAL financial loss.
CA
NOT a recognized Exception
PR
Conflicts of Interest #(The Duty of Loyalty)
RULE
(1) If an interest of you, another client, or a third party
(2) materially limits or
(3) is adverse to loyal representation
(4) conflict of interest exists
(5) disclosure and withdraw necessary
EXCEPTION
(1) Objectively reasonable belief you can represent everyone effectively
(2) Inform each affected client (watch for confidentiality issues)
(3) Clients consents, confirmed in writing
REMEDY
(1) Refuse to take the case
(2) Advise clients to get separate counsel, OR
(3) Withdraw
PR
Conflicts of Interest: Imputed disqualification
RULE:
-All lawyers of a firm share conflicts. This includes private firms or corporate law departments.
EXCEPTION:
(1) conflict arises from previous government service; OR
(2) purely personal relationship
(3) Creation of an ‘ethical wall’
NOTE:
*CA follows these rules for disqualification, but does not subject a lawyer to discipline for imputed conflicts under its ethical rules
PR
Business Transactions or Adverse Interests Between Attorney and Client
RULE
Allowed IF
(1) fair terms;
(2) full, lay disclosure in WRITING;
(3) opportunity obtain outside counsel; and
(4) written consent
PR
Serving on a Client’s Board as a Director
RULE:
Allowed BUT strongly discouraged, almost always a violation of the duties of loyalty and confidentially
NOTE: BOD of a Legal Services Organization
Allowed IF:
(1) legal services organization
(2) not your employer
(3) no knowingly participation in decisions or actions adverse to your clients
PR
Limiting Malpractice and Professional Disciplinary Liability
RULE
Not permitted
EXCEPTION
-Settlement of malpractice claim allowed after written advise to consult an outside counsel
-ABA Only: may limit liability if client is independently represented in making the agreement
PR
Obtaining Publication Rights of an ONGOING Case
RULE:
(1) CA:
- Discouraged, but allowed if the judge believes:
(i) client clearly understands; and (ii) consents
(2) ABA:
- Not allowed before the representation has ended
PR
Attorney Loans and Advances to a Client
RULE:
(1) CA:
(i) prohibits the promise of paying a prospective client’s debts
(ii) but allows loans in all matters IF there is a written IOU
(2) ABA
(i) No financial assistance
(ii) Except litigation expenses for indigents;
(ii) Except advance of litigation expenses in contingent fee cases
PR
Conflicting Duties When Circumstantial Evidence is Involved (ring tan)
Confidentiality to the client
Fairness to the court and opposing counsel
PR
Duty of fairness to the court and opposing counsel##Issues re: evidence
A lawyer must not unlawfully alter, destroy, or conceal evidence. Further, it is a crime to destroy or conceal evidence.
PR
3 Malpractice Concepts
(1) Negligence
(2) Breach of Fiduciary Duty
(3) Breach of K
-Discuss ALL
PR
2 Conflict of Interest Concepts
(1) Potential conflicts
(2) Actual conflicts
PR
Any time you see a non-lawyer in a PR question start thinking…
Unlicensed practice of law
PR
Use of Client Information
IF:
(1) disadvantages client; and
(2) without consent
THEN violates:
(3) loyalty; and
(4) confidentiality
PR
Gifts to lawyer or lawyer’s family##A lawyer may not…
(1) SOLICIT a substantial gift from a client;
OR
(2) DRAFT a doc to a non-relative client that provides a substantial gift to L or L’s relative
PR
If opposing counsel is of ‘close relations’ to L…
L may not oppose that party
*UNLESS:
Informed client consent
‘Close relations’ includes:
ABA: immediate family
CA: immediate family & shackmates
NOTE:
Not imputed to other firm members
PR
If Trial counsel is a NECESSARY witness
CA (lenient)
(1) may not testify in jury trials
UNLESS:
(2) client consents
ABA (strict)
(1) may not be counsel & witness
UNLESS:
(2) testimony is uncontested OR
(3) relates to nature or value of services rendered; OR
(4) lawyer’s distinctive value means withdrawal would impose substantial hardship on the client
(5) IF testimony would prejudice the client, consent is required, and the conflict is imputed to colleagues
NOTE:
Not imputed to other firm members unless testimony prejudices the client
PR
Potential Client Conflicts
L may represent clients with potential conflicts IF
-proper consent of all
NOTE
Almost never may represent if actual conflict exist
PR
Actual Client Conflicts
L may NOT represent if actual conflict exist
NOTE:
L may represent if potential conflicts with
-proper consent of all